The profane, gun-toting police chief of tiny Gilberton, Pa., has made national headlines since online video emerged of him firing off automatic weapons while bragging about "[shooting] libtards out of a tree."

On his radio show on Monday, Kessler lashed out at his critics, variously denouncing them as a "f****ing fat f**k," and an "illustrious piece of s**t." Noting that his father fought in Vietnam, Kessler noted that "He killed better people than these f***ing scumbags that are attacking me today,” Salon reported.

You can listen to the show here. Once again, warning, there's some profanity:

In an interview with NBC News, Kessler, 41, said he wasn't a "delusional lunatic," though some of his critics have painted him that way. And he told the network that he expected to be unemployed when he returned to work this week from a vacation in Texas.

Borough officials in Gilberton, pop. 800, are expected to meet Wednesday night to discuss what to do about Kessler. A meeting scheduled for last week was abruptly canceled after borough officials reported receiving "irate" phone calls. The session is expected to be such a draw that it's been moved down the road to neighboring Mahanoy City to accommodate the crowd, The Standard-Speaker of Hazleton reported last week.

Gilberton Mayor Mary Lou Hannon has stood by the chief, even though she said she found his videos offensive and understood how others might as well.

While standing by his First Amendment right to free expression, the chiefs group said Kessler doesn't reflect the "vast majority of the leaders in our profession," The Morning Call of Allentown reported.

"We also believe that police officers, and especially police leaders, have an obligation to conduct and express themselves, both on and off duty, in a manner that reflects the professionalism, discipline, courtesy and civility that are part of the values of the law enforcement profession," the chiefs' group said in a statement.

The North Schuylkill Board of Education issued a statement Friday that said the rest of the members don't' "condone" the videos. Kessler is a member of the board, The Morning Call also reported.

In interviews, Kessler has said he used profanity in the videos to attract people's attention and to warn them that they needed to stand up for their constitutional rights or risk losing them.

(*Efforts this morning to reach Kessler for comment were unsuccessful. His voice mailbox at Gilberton Borough Hall was full and unable to accept further messages.)

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